Gabby's gone

After 13 professional seasons, 391 appearances and 87 goals Agbonlahor has left his boyhood club.

The 31-year-old forward’s last appearance in claret and blue came against Sheffield United on December 23 and he’ll now weigh up his options ahead of his next move.

Posting on Instagram, Agbonlahor wrote: “At school I had my doubters but I always said I would become a professional footballer.

“Thank you Aston Villa for making my dream come true!!! 17 years, 391 games, 87 goals for the team I’ve supported all my life is something I would never have dreamt of!!

“Thank you to the fans who have supported me all my career you have made me feel proud to put a Villa shirt on! And also to the staff and players I have had the privilege to work with. I will miss you all.

“I look forward to watching the great young talent we have at the club and watching this special club get back to the where it belongs!

'Really severe'

The claret and blues were resigned to a third successive season of Championship football with defeat to Fulham in the play-off final at Wembley.

Steve Bruce’s expensively-assembled squad is now expected to be broken up this summer as the club desperately attempt to stay within Financial Fair Play restrictions.

The club’s most valuable asset, Jack Grealish, is already being linked with a host of Premier League sides with Villa likely to sell at least one of their top players.

Kieran Maguire, a lecturer in football finance at the University of Liverpool, discussed Villa’s problems at length with the BBC.

Cash cuts

“It’s really severe for Villa because this is the second year they’ve had parachute payments. They got around £35million from the Premier League to cushion the blow of relegation.

“Those payments get cut back severely next year so they’re going to have £20million less coming in. I think the problem for Villa is that the owner has gambled in the last couple of years on recruiting players on big wages.